Remembering 9/11

Each one of us has experienced events that we will never forget—no matter how much time passes, we remember with stark clarity where we were and what we were doing when “it happened.” Some are private and personal, but others are world-shaking. For some of us it was when man first landed on the moon, or when the Challenger space shuttle exploded with seven on board. And who can forget September 11, 2001, when terrorists destroyed the Twin Towers in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and brought down Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania?

There was a stunned silence for the next several days. I lived in flyover country at the time, but nothing was flying over—no contrails, just an eerie quiet. We remember the iconic image of President George W. Bush, megaphone in his hand, encouraging the nation as he stood atop the rubble with firefighter Bob Beckwith at his side and an American flag hanging from a construction crane in the background. Secretary of State Colin Powell later took to television to tell us about al-Qaeda—who they were and how they and their leader Osama bin Laden were responsible.

Angered Americans wanted to avenge this act of terrorism, and they were not alone. “While the attacks were aimed at the United States, 372 foreign nationals from 61 countries were also victims” (“Countries That Lost Citizens On 9/11,” BrilliantMaps.com, March 3, 2023). Other sources give different numbers due to dual citizenships and other factors. In addition to the United States, hardest hit were the United Kingdom (67), Dominican Republic (47), India (41), South Korea (28), and Canada and Japan (24 each). The attacks touched many lives around the globe and stirred outrage from most of the world—but not from all, as images of celebration were seen in some Middle Eastern countries.

I remember saying at the time, “This will change our world forever,” but I did not understand how. I only knew that nothing would be the same—and it hasn’t been. Twenty-five years later, those under age 30 cannot remember a time when they could go through the airport without enduring security lines and luggage searches. Some changes are less obvious—banking has changed due to concerns over money laundering, as Americans doing business or charitable work in other countries know only too well. Anti-terrorism measures have curtailed personal privacy, something concerning but often not readily noticed.

A World Changed

The 9/11 attacks left a tragic legacy. Officially, 2,977 people perished, not including the 19 terrorists. Some relatives of the dead remain haunted by the memory of the moment they received that last phone call from a spouse waiting in vain to be rescued from flames below them in the tower. Others were scarred by a futile search for the body of a lost loved one. And losses of life continue, as 9/11 rescue and recovery workers have continued to succumb to cancers and other afflictions after inhaling toxic chemicals—now by some measures numbering more than those who died in the actual attacks.

But while almost everyone has heard of 9/11, the shock of what occurred a quarter of a century ago is mostly unknown to a younger generation. Even we who lived through that momentous day find new concerns filling our lives (for more on 9/11 and memory, read “A Moment When Everything Changes” on page 22). We will always remember 9/11, but time and attention move on.

It is reasonable to wonder 25 years later how 9/11 changed us—not only how we move through airports, but how we as individuals have changed. What lessons were learned, if any? Are Americans, and others touched by that day, any better as a result? Is our world safer? Has the unity seen so intensely in the immediate aftermath continued? There was a surge in church attendance for a few weeks, but that was short-lived. People rallied around the flag instead of turning away from ungodly behaviors and admitting that we are going in the wrong direction.

What unity there was is no more. Our world is more divided than ever. Old alliances are crumbling and new ones are forming—and the world is gearing up for war. Even among Americans, patriotism is a bad word to a sizeable minority. Behaviors condemned 25 years ago have become normalized. Acceptance of medical marijuana has also led to accepting recreational use in 24 of the 50 states. With same-sex marriage now mainstream, activists now seek transgender rights. Mothers bring toddlers to “drag queen story hours.”

Concerns over terrorism were cast aside for a four-year open-border policy allowing millions of unvetted immigrants to storm America’s southern border. Something similar has happened in Canada, the United Kingdom, and most of Western Europe. Why should we be surprised, when God foretold this? “The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail” (Deuteronomy 28:43–44). If you have not read our eye-opening resource The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy, be sure to order your free copy, as it presents a key to understanding world events.

Blessings Broken

It is easy to connect the dots between all of this and what the Bible says will happen to the descendants of biblical Abraham. National blessings were promised to his descendants, but most Bible students miss that the birthright promises of great national wealth, agricultural abundance, and descendants numbering as the sands of the seas were given not to the Jews, but to another of Abraham’s great-grandsons: “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; yet Judah [the father of the Jews] prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler [the Messiah], although the birthright was Joseph’s” (1 Chronicles 5:1–2).

The birthright blessings were divided between Joseph’s two sons. Ephraim was to be a company or commonwealth of nations and Manasseh was to become a single great nation. All of this was to happen in the last days (see Genesis 48:1–20; 49:1–2, 22–26).

Terrorism Predicted in the End-Times

God laid out to all twelve tribes of Israel the blessings for obedience and the consequences for disobedience. Following the blessings listed in Leviticus 26:3–13, we come to the curses: “But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments… I will even appoint terror over you.... I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you” (Leviticus 26:14–17).

The reality of terror came to America on September 11, 2001, and life has not been the same since. Today, America revels in pride of its power even as it wallows in pride of its sins—but God warns that, unless we turn from our evil ways, “I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit” (Leviticus 26:19–20).

The British-descended peoples in Britain and the U.S. are indeed the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh. This is not difficult to prove to anyone willing to open the Bible and connect the dots. Just as Britain’s empire has faded, so the U.S. is following the path to national disaster. Do not think it cannot happen—as it certainly will.